CRGH vs Lister vs The Evewell

[user1475505106]

Any experiences on which one to choose?

I rushed into a really cheap and inexperienced clinic for first round which failed.

I have booked initial consultations with all of these next week.

Any advice would be appreciated x

I think consultations with each will really help. I had consults recently with ARGC Lister and Create and decided on Lister as I felt they put a lot of time in reading our history (long and extensive) and thinking about what could be done. And we have low AMH levels which they seem to specialise in so that might not be your area of concern.

So I think do all three consults, have your questions ready. I asked each about

1. What protocol they would do
2. How often they monitor
3. What extra tests they would recommend if any
4. What transfer help do they do (test progesterone etc)

So I could compare responses and also how it compared to what I got in my previous clinic.

I'm with crgh and we didn't speak about protocols. It was just tailored to me and I think we all have completely different protocols and drugs. Crgh scan and monitor closely so they can be reactive with stim dose changes quickly and try and mitigate OHSS risk.

I've been very very impressed with them.

Thank you @Likeafriendivealwaysknown and @ivftake1 for your replies.

I am 36, have a blocked tube and one child concieved naturally who is 3. I feel like spending money repeatedly in cheap places just accumulates to what you would spend for a more expensive and experienced round.

I am hoping for a more natural approach as I don't feel my body reponded to even mild stims. Lets see what they say.

@ivftake1 do you mind me asking how much for one round at CRGH including additional tests?

@Likeafriendivealwaysknown and if if you don't mind answering the same in terms of cost?

I have a budget of 7k need to know how much to spend on top etc.

We've paid for a package through access fertility for 2 years unlimited.

Crgh have a massive price list on their website which might help you guess how much it'll be altogether?

@ivftake1 that's my worry. Last time i got ohss and i really believe it impacted my egg quality. I could be wrong and just have terrible eggs but I definitely want a more tailored natural approach.

@ivftake1 with access fertility does that cover the entire round or are there additional costs to pay like meds?

[quote user1475505106]@ivftake1 with access fertility does that cover the entire round or are there additional costs to pay like meds?[/quote]
It doesn't cover some blood tests and doesn't cover medication. But if you're accepted they do refund programmes etc based on age and history. Check it out! They're very helpful on the phone too.

When I asked a nurse at crgh what type of protocol I was on 'she said you're on a tailored protocol, you don't need to worry about any of that, just know it's what the doctors think is right for you'
Which I found reassuring as I do tend to worry about everything and always try to micro-manage.

They started me on a low dose of one of the drugs at first because I have high ovarian reserve (therefore higher risk of OHSS) and I was monitored every other day. My dose increased twice in 4 days which felt very responsive to the monitoring. I ended up with 10 mature eggs. I'm pleased with that because I don't feel like my ovaries were forced to produce and produce and produce.

@ivftake1 10 eggs is awesome. That sounds great. I have a high AFC and I don't think they tried to avoid OHSS at all or manage it well.

What dose were you on at CRGH during stims? I was on 150 bemfola which for me was too high.

Good luck for your cycle!!

Started at:

Meriofert 75 IU + 150 IU Fostimon for two days, then monitored

Upped to Meriofert 112.5 IU + 150 Fostimon for another two days, then monitored

Upped to 150 of meriofert and the same of fostimon.

I had 18 follicles, not sure what sizes they were because I think it's best to be in blissful ignorance sometimes and just let the team worry about all that stuff.

@user1475505106 I’m afraid I don’t know the costs as I’m doing remote monitoring and egg collection only for embryo banking so it wouldn’t be the same as cost for you but they did send us a detailed price list after our consult.

What I mean about protocol is what @ivftake1 said which is if one clinic says oh 150 bemfola isn’t what we do and the other days we tailor it as you go or we’re going to try a natural modified based on your AMH and AFC that will help you make a decision. I think it’s important to talk specifics so you don’t end up with them and they turn out the same as your previous clinic.

Good luck.

@Likeafriendivealwaysknown thanks that's a great tip. I just realised that through my whole experience I was only ever seen by a doctor during egg collection.

I do not want a repeat at all. I have all the questions I need to ask at each appointment so i feel pretty prepared.

Does CRGH have an age limit @ivftake1?

[quote user1475505106]@Likeafriendivealwaysknown thanks that's a great tip. I just realised that through my whole experience I was only ever seen by a doctor during egg collection.

I do not want a repeat at all. I have all the questions I need to ask at each appointment so i feel pretty prepared.

Does CRGH have an age limit @ivftake1?[/quote]
My friend used CRGH when she was 44, but apart from that I'm not sure of their age limit.

Evewell & CRGH have been similarly priced. £7-8k is realistic as an all in cost assuming you don’t need ICSI or PGS testing. You need to pay for blood tests on top of the IVF price (I spent £1k last round but £600 is about right) and medication is about £1,000-1500.

Evewell uses consultants for scans and CRGH & Lister use nurses. In terms of experience I think the Evewell is the nicest but all 3 clinics have good success rates.

@jcurve thanks for your reply.

How are you guys getting on with your ivf journeys? @Likeafriendivealwaysknown @ivftake1**@jcurve

So I'm just updating on my consultation with Lister yesterday. I wasn't particularly impressed. Doctor appeared to be re reading my previous results whilst talking to me suggesting he hadn't read them prior.

Then he talked about transferring my current embryo at my first clinic over and the protocol involved.

After I said I was unhappy with my protocol and the results for my first cycle, he said its just all to do with quality and changing protocol doesn't make a difference and he said he would keep me on the same protocol. He said with that I have a 48% chance of success but, with a more natural approach its 11%

He was very friendly and nice but I feel he just pushed what he thought and failed to consider and consider why my previous cycle failed and any changes that could be made.

I don't think I'll be going with Lister.

I have The Evewell this Thursday and will update this thread.

Sorry you're disappointed. I think doctors do pre-read but have to refer back to results/notes etc to refresh their memories when speaking with us, they must deal with a lot of patients and numbers!

My journey is going well so far, had my transfer yesterday so I'm in the tww. As this is my first cycle and my only experience of a fertility clinic I don't have anything to compare it to.

Hi @user1475505106 I’m sorry you had a bad experience. It just shows it’s worth doing several consults to speak to the doctors in person and help you make a decision.

Can I ask what your issues are and what was the outcome of your first cycle? I suppose if you got a few blastocysts then technically it was a success which might explain why they didn’t want to change it?

For mine Lister are actually doing the same protocol as my old clinic as it yielded two top quality blasts and they are adding in letrozole to try utilise my own hormones too given my response. So I was happy enough with that.

All consults they will read your notes back to you - it’s how they talk through your issues. I’ve done x4 consultations now and all started off confirming my age etc so try not to let that get to you. Focus on how well you think they understand your issues and what they are proposing to do about them!

@Likeafriendivealwaysknown I don't think it was a bad experience, I was just disappointed that they weren't willing to think about the fact that a different protocol may produce better/different results. Maybe I'm naive to think so.

So my first round I had 19 eggs, but only ended up with 3 blasts. I mean that may be considered a normal result by some, but I don't feel I was lead through my treatment with a lot of inexperience. When the stims gave me a polyp, they still convinced me to do a transfer. They didn't do enough to prevent OHSS and after having read about how OHSS affects egg quality I am disappointed they didn't monitor and change anything.

My issues are a single blocked tube on the left (and I always ovulate from left side) and age whch is 36. I think maybe I just have poor egg quality, but I didn't have faith in the quality of care I received the first time to round to 100 percent believe that.

Hence why I've booked 3 consultations to try and get the best results that I possibly can and get different opinions.

Does anyone know how they decide on short or long protocol for each patient?

*not inexperience but experience

Also @ivftake1 congratulations on your transfer. That's amazing. Do you mind me asking how were your results with CRGH in terms of embryos and quality?

Best of luck in the 2WW! Wishing you all the best

@user1475505106

*not inexperience but experience

Also @ivftake1 congratulations on your transfer. That's amazing. Do you mind me asking how were your results with CRGH in terms of embryos and quality?

Best of luck in the 2WW! Wishing you all the best

Thank you x

I got 10 mature eggs (not sure how many were collected that weren't mature, I didn't ask). 9 fertilised normally, 9 made it to day 3, 9 made it to day 5! So all in all, a pretty good outcome.

Various qualities, I had a 3BB+ (just above 'good quality' transferred yesterday. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the blasts but the embryologist said I really shouldn't be. Maternal age and medical history are far more important than blast quality.

@ivftake1that's an incredible result. Well done!!

He's right I wouldn't worry about blast quality. My first IVF cycle in August was a freeze all. On the day of transfer my 5AB didn't survive the thaw but my 5CC did.

They can't tell much just by looking at it.

@user1475505106 ah ok. I can see why you want better care. I’d ask the others specifically what they will do to prevent OHSS. Sounds like somewhere like CRGH who do more intensive monitoring might suit you as they could monitor your dose throughout the cycle and adjust it.

I have diminishing ovarian reserve which Lister specialise in so they suit me for that purpose. It just shows it’s hard to rely on others views of places when we all have such different issues.

As an aside have you had your Testosterone checked?

@Likeafriendivealwaysknown absolutely I agree, its hard to say that one clinic is better than the others as it depends on the individual needs. However, my previous clinic were just shocking. I think as it was my first cycle I was naive and assumed they knew best.

Yes had testosterone and its all normal. All my results have been normal, I think I would just like someone to investigate me further including what a blocked tube could imply. Endo, infections, adhesions?

My instinct is its my uterus that has a problem after a very difficult delivery with my first. But who knows?

[quote user1475505106]@Likeafriendivealwaysknown absolutely I agree, its hard to say that one clinic is better than the others as it depends on the individual needs. However, my previous clinic were just shocking. I think as it was my first cycle I was naive and assumed they knew best.

Yes had testosterone and its all normal. All my results have been normal, I think I would just like someone to investigate me further including what a blocked tube could imply. Endo, infections, adhesions?

My instinct is its my uterus that has a problem after a very difficult delivery with my first. But who knows?[/quote]
Have you had a hycosy etc?

Sometimes they never know what's wrong (like with me!) and it's so frustrating.

My hycosy showed that my tubes were blocked, BUT, my consultant said the position of the blockage and the fact I have a son would suggest it was actually a uterus spasm caused by the test itself! Therefore impossible to find out what's going on.

Now we know there's no worried with my husband's sperm fertilising my eggs, I'm more inclined to believe that my tubes are indeed blocked! I had a dreadful 4 day labour resulting in an infection and then C Section. So it's very likely

@ivftake1 awww how old is your son? Same story with me secondary infertility. First time barely took any effort. I also had a four day labour and ventouse delivery. Very painful!

So I've had a HSG with the xray and it showed a cornual block (so where uterus meets fallopian tube at the beginning) but I have a hycosy scheduled this week.

What's the difference do you know? I think mine is a block because the other tube showed no problem. What else can a hycosy diagnose?

He's 2 years and about 8 months! I really wasn't planning a massive age gap but here we are!

I'm not sure of the difference, only that the hycosy flushes dye around so they can see what goes where etc.

Secondary infertility is so horrible! I'm constantly surrounded by children and mothers there's just no escape. Do you find the same? How old is yours?